Down Under 14 Camogie Player for 2010 at last Friday night’s County Camogie Awards in the Club writes Martin MaClean. This will sit along with her Down Under 14 Footballer of the Year for 2010

Pat Morgan on Sunday writes Michael Starkey. Pat has been involved with the Club all his life in the fields of administration, fundraising and Scor. He was regular caller at the Lotto every Sunday night and always called in for a bit of banter with the regulars. xa0Pat hardly missed a home football matchwhether it was the under 10s or seniors. xa0He will be sadly missed about the Club and County. xa0A Mhuire, Banrion na nGael, guigh ar a anam. A Tribute To Joe Lyttle It was also with great sadness that everyone at the RGU learned of the untimely death of Joe Lyttle, a former player who represented Downpatrick over many years in the 1970’s and 1980’s. After moving to the county town in 1971 Joe quickly became a very active member of the RGUxa0 playing in very successful underage teams before moving on to the great minor team of 1976 who won all before them in Down. Joe’s great defensive qualities were well noted by the senior manager of the time, Pat Oakes, and he was part of the teak tough full back line of the Championship winning team in 1978 along side Macartan Bryce and Paddy Galbraith, and he went on to represent the Hoops well into the 1980’s. Joe also was one of the many RGU representatives on the All-Ireland winning Red High team of 1977. Yet Joe will alwaysxa0 be remembered by his team-mates and peers for being a true gentleman and witty raconteur who was extremely popular with all who came into contact with him. To his widow, Briege, children Joanna, Jennifer & Daniel, and indeed the wider Lyttle family, we extend our condolences. Ar Lámh dhéis Dé go rabh a anam. Club Notes The Senior Reserves were at home to Clann na Banna on Sunday and secured a draw when they had the game in the bag going into the final quarter. xa0Next game isxa0 Wednesday (April 6th) at home against Liatroim. xa0Please note the throw in is at 7.30pm. The Club would like to wish our juvenile chairman Ciaran Cunningham a speedy recovery following an operation, and hope it’s not long before he is back to normal club duties. Membership is now due. Anyone who has yet to pay can they please give their form and money to their Manager, Nishy Wynn or Roisin Polly as soon as possible. U-12 training continues on Tuesday nights from 7 – 8.30 pm. U-12 girls training Saturday mornings from 10.30-11.30.am U-16 girls train on Thursday evenings at 6.30, and Sunday mornings at 11.00am. Senior ladies Wed 6.30pm. All are welcome. Under-14 football training continues on Saturdays at 3.00pm. Training for the Under 6’s, 8’s and 10’s continues on Saturday mornings at 10.30am. There have been fantastic numbers at all 3 sessions so far but we welcome any newcomers, where we have put in a great number of highly qualified and highly enthusiastic coaches. Hopefully in 10 years or so it will be these boys and girls we will be going to Croke Park to cheer on The U-12’s had a very enjoyable day in the capital on Saturday, when a panel of 19 players travelled to watch Down take on Dublin in Croke Park. Prior to the big game, the boys played their first friendly xa0of the season when they took on xa0top Dublin side St Vincent’s. Despite conceding several inches and pounds to their opponents the boys put up a great fight before succumbing to a 4-6 to 0-13 defeat. Indeed had the boys taken a few of their goal chances they could have pulled off a great win. Scorers on the day were Paul Smyth-5pts, Tim Prenter-2pts, Ronan Murphy-2pts, Morgan Fitzpatrick-1pt, Colin Lecky-1pt, Daniel Kelly-1pt and of course not forgetting Tom Smyth who chipped in with a point and proceeded to celebrate the whole way home! Congratulations to Daniel Kelly , Caolin Logue and Eoin Watterson who all made their debuts in the hooped jersey. The u12s also took part in a special Ulster Council training session last Thursday, where they left a very good impression with the visiting coaches. Training for the u12s continues on Tue evenings at 7-8.30. This Sunday the U-12s start their season proper when they travel to Kilcoo for their first domestic outing of the year. Games are at 1pm this week and travel arrangements will be confirmed later this week. Set dancing continues on Tuesday nights at 7.30. Anyone interested just turn up or ring Johnny on 07710369509. For party bookings ring Brian on 07745496213. This week’s lotto numbers were 2,5,14, and 26. Five share £100 and next week’s jackpot is £3800. If you have any club information or announcements which you would like to have included in next week’s Club Notes, please send the details via email to [email protected] Our website is updated on a regular basis. For all the latest news go to www.rgudownpatrick.com]]>

King David reigns supreme in Leitrim (Newcastle AC notes by Joe McCann) Comparing any athlete to arguably the greatest king in Biblical history is certainly bold, but in this case the analogy befits the efforts of David McKibbin as he rose to the occasion and produced a display of smooth and fast paced running that left his rivals trailing in his wake.xa0 Like his biblical namesake he reigned supreme, taming his nearest challengers within the first two miles and finishing strong leaving an indelible mark on the minds of all who witnessed. The inaugural running of the Leitrim 5, orgainsed by the local GAA club, in association with Newcastle AC was a great success.xa0 The course was demanding, but interesting, taking in stunning views of the area.xa0 The weather had been kind; it was almost as if the gods of running were giving this new race a seal of approval. A Mile Fun Run/walk Before the main event there was a 2 mile fun run/walk.xa0 This was very well supported by the local community, with the very young and the not so young completing the course.xa0 A tremendous array of push chairs and prams were on display and some of the very young athletes managed to complete the course without putting a foot on the tarmac. At the serious end of the fun run (now that’s a tautology if ever there was one!), there were some fine performances with Pearse og McCrickard storming home in a very fast 10:56, 8 seconds ahead of Timothy McCracken who also had a fine run. Sean-og O’Rourke dipped under the 12 minute mark to complete the podium positions.xa0 Dearbhla Magee finished 4^th overall and first girl in a fine time of 12:03, building on the great form shown for her school in the recent Down, Ulster and All Ireland Country series’.xa0 It was certainly a great day for the McCrickard’s and Moorhead’s with 10 of the first 18 finishers in the fun run belonging to either of the two families!xa0 Congratulations to each and every one of the 86 finishers that made this a very worthwhile addition to the day’s activities. A Testing 5 The main event of the day was started by a double act that will have Ant & Dec worrying about their ability to retain their position as the nation’s favourites.xa0 Frank and Deon took the stage (by stage I mean raised ditch outside the football field!) to get the proceedings under way.xa0 After a lengthy explanation concerning the latter’s apologetic reasons for not running, he finally blew the whistle and we set off in the spring sunshine. Those who had trotted over the course in training and those with local knowledge were certainly in an advantageous position to take cognisance of the many twists and turns that lay ahead.xa0 McKibbin got into his stride quickly and was joined by Hicks, Steele, Quail (who I note was running for Leitrim GAC and wearing his Newcastle AC vest – there will surely be a meeting of the disciplinary sub-committee over that one!), Brown and Doyle as the race passed through the city centre before heading out to the surrounding countryside.xa0 Further down the field there was some good humour and banter from those of us taking the whole thing a lot less seriously and glad to be out running. McKibbin Is Too Quick For The Rest McKibbin gradually tightened his grip on the race and one by one his challengers found the unrelenting pace too hot to handle.xa0 By the three mile marker he has built up a commanding lead that looked unassailable.xa0 In the end it was a comfortable victory as he had 34 seconds to spare over Hicks who ran very well to finish in second place.xa0 Steele was a minute behind the winner in third, with Quail a further 18 seconds back in fourth. Brannigan, my eternal nemesis, completed the top 5 after a fine run (all that weight lost due to giving up jam for lent is beginning to pay dividends!) and finished just over the half hour mark in 30:07.xa0 Brown and Doyle, despite falling away from the early fast pace ran strong throughout and should be very pleased with their respective times of 30:41 and 30:45.xa0 Sean Og Keary should be a target for local running clubs when the transfer window opens as he held of the challenge of Vet50 category winner Eugene McCann to finish in 8^th place in a highly commendable 30:56.xa0 Orla McElroy was first lady home in 28^th place overall, just ahead of the evergreen Joe Quinn, who is living proof that life begins at 60 by running 38 minutes dead. Personally I really enjoyed the race.xa0 My pacer, Mark Kendall, did the job I had assigned him to do – keep me ahead of PJ, who it would appear has chosen not to share his voucher with me.xa0 The course was tough at times, but a good test of strength, speed, stamina and endurance; a test I would recommend to those looking for a well organised, well marshalled and friendly event.xa0 The now 51 year old John Kelly concurred with my sentiments at the end when in a rare interview he said, ‘aye, that was a tough enough one.’ Obviously the wisdom that comes from age is not wasted on this athlete, who incidentally was presented with his club vest after Jimmy’s 10k and claims to have lost it already, without ever wearing it.xa0 The disciplinary sub-committee is going to have a busy meeting.xa0 Leitrim GAC won the GAC team prize, albeit by default as they were the only team to compete; apparently many had promised but none turned up; such people could find a spiritual home in the ‘maybe’ world of Newcastle AC! Thanks to the sponsors Finally the organisers would like to thank the sponsors who contributed greatly to the success of the event: McGrady Financial Services, AJC Electrical, Smyths Centra Newcastle, Mourne Fresh Foods, Fresh Food Centre Castlewellan, Up & Running, Coca-Cola and Dolmen Park Residents’Association. Omagh Half Marathon Paul Fegan was the only club member to make the journey to Omagh for the Half Marathon.xa0 The race was won by local favourite Stephen Duncan in an impressive 1:06:33. xa0Paul, who was using this event as final preparation for an Ultra event next weekend, ran steady as usual and clocked 1:44:22, finishing 419^th out of 1155 finishers.xa0 Paul was through 5 miles in 39:16 and continued his steady progress clocking 1:19:44 at the 10 mile marker. Paul will also have clocked up a few more Airmiles as he continues to travel the length and breadth of the country in search of interesting races. Kerry’s Winning Streak Continues Kerry Harty made it five wins out of five on the road recently with another victory in the Queen’s 5k race on Wednesday 30^th April.xa0 Kerry’s time of 16:36 was enough to give her victory by 14 seconds over Julie Turley from Dromore AC with Teresa McGloin (Finn Valley AC) over a minute back in third place.xa0 Kerry will be competing for the last time locally at the Titanic Quarter 10k on Sunday 10^th April before jetting of to sunnier environs to make her final preparations for a demanding schedule on the track. Hugo Rodgers was the only Newcastle male on the streets of the capital and he crossed the line in a very credible 19 minutes dead.xa0 Conor Bradley from City of Derry was the overall winner in a time of 14:46, holding of the challenge of Paddy Hamilton and Joe McAllister, both of whom also dipped under the 15 minute barrier.xa0 Former East Down athlete and 2009 All Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Champion James O’Hare had another excellent run in a race he clearly enjoys, finishing 5^th in 15 minutes dead. Junior Training Resumes Junior training resumed outdoors this Monday for all athletes and began to focus on track and field activities.xa0 We hope to be reporting in the coming weeks of the success of our athletes as they represent their club and schools at the many events scheduled for the spring and summer.xa0 We wish a speedy recovery to one of our talented juniors Aidan Hawkins, who sustained an injury playing sport last week.xa0 We all hope that your treatment is successful and that you are back out running and competing in the not too distant future. Hill And Dale 2011 The 2011 Hill and Dale season roars back into life next Thursday, 11^th April, with the traditional start to the season, The McVeigh Classic in Castlewellan Forest Park. This race, run on forest trails is suitable for runners of all abilities and levels of experience and the post race prize-giving in Maginns is well worth the entry fee! The second race is also a forest race; this time Tollymore Forest Park provides the backdrop and the refreshments will be served in the Avoca Hotel in Newcastle.xa0 A full preview of the entire series with details of all eleven races, the unbiased and totally objective form guide and much more will be available in the full series preview in the next issue of the Mourne Observer.]]>

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